Ashwin to get Dilip Sardesai award

The new spin kings at home

25 yr old off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be honored for his emphatic performances in the recently concluded India – West Indies Test series, which India won 2-0, with the Dilip Sardesai award. The BCCI instituted the Dilip Sardesai Award in 2007 for the player who performs outstandingly in a bilateral series featuring India and West Indies. Ishant Sharma was given the award before Ashwin, for his brilliant bowling in India’s tour of the Caribbean earlier this year.

Ashwin made his Test debut in the recently concluded series and he finished the series with an excellent haul of 22 wkts from 3 Tests at an average of 22.90. He took 9 wkts on debut in Delhi and also won the Man of the Match award twice. He was also the Man of the Series.

The icing on the cake for Ashwin was his maiden century at Mumbai in the 3rd Test after Sachin failed yet again to nail his 100th international century. Ashwin also made sure that India could salvage a draw in the tense 4th inning at Mumbai.

In the Test series, Ashwin overshadowed Pragyan Ojha‘s performances (20 wkts) which were brilliant in their own way. These 2 spinners formed an excellent combo and made sure that Harbhajan Singh was hardly missed. A combined haul of 42 wkts indeed speaks volumes about their efforts.

Ashwin is already a first choice spinner for India in the ODIs and for Chennai Super Kings in the T20 format. He is slowly making a name for himself in the format that matters as well. The future ahead is definitely looking up for this Chennai youngster and with Harbhajan Singh going through a real rough patch, the time is ripe for Ashwin to nail the front-line spinner’s slot all to himself.

With his recent marital bliss, life is currently one big joy ride for Ashwin. May the good times roll on for this promising youngster.